Chess Hero 2.3

It is nice to see a new piece of free training software, especially when it
is as simple and effective as this is! Simply set an analysis engine and select
a pgn file (e.g. the latest Week in Chess, or perhaps games from a favourite player or
opening), and the program will present you with random postions for you to make
what you think is the best continuation. Your move is compared to the engine's
choice, and can also be compared to the move played in the game. It's the perfect
excuse to dip into a game database and an enjoyable way to practise your analysis skills!
This is one of the most well-designed chess programs around and deserves a spot
on my pick of the best, if I ever get round to updating it! An excellent program!

Chessology 1.0

Chessology is a program for playing against (only as white at present!).
When you place the mouse over one of your pieces, the colour of its possible destination
squares changes according to whether the computer thinks the move is good or bad.
The refutation of a bad move is also sometimes indicated with an arrow. It's a great teaching
idea that works really well. Ideal for beginners, but also enjoyable for
more advanced players.

Learn Chess Or Call Me An Idiot

An electronic book with animated graphics aimed at teaching the basics of
chess. It has sections on how the pieces move and game rules, and short chapters
on notation, tactics, strategy, openings and endgames. It's a humourous,
informative, beautiful piece of work and a fun introduction or refresher
course for the game.

Chess Position Trainer 3.3

This is a good-looking, up-to-date piece of software useful for creating an
opening repertoire and testing your knowledge of it. There is excellent
documentation and a training wizard to customise testing options according
to ability. It can be linked to a pgn file of your games to show where the
first move not covered by your repertoire occured. Also has useful importing,
exporting and backsolving functions. Several ready-made repertoires are
available for download. Like Bookup, but free.

Lucas Chess 3.70

The idea of this software is to play against one of the many included engines
with the help of a limited number of hints from a tutor engine. As you win the
difficulty increases, and you can play stronger engines. There are also 1000s of
chess problems and training positions included.